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Nashoba Tech board ignores transparency

Nashoba Tech School Committee members on Monday night unanimously expressed disappointment that a reporter might tell the world about their new school superintendent choice before the board could.

We're disappointed, too. We're disappointed that the futures of hundreds of students could be left in the hands of policymakers who are clueless about government transparency and bereft of common decency.

The waters began to roil two weeks ago when the board -- at a public meeting -- selected Leo DeSimone, director of the Career and Technical Education Department at Somerville High School, as its next leader. Board members and staff were upset Nashoba Tech Principal Denise Pigeon learned she was bypassed from the Twitter feed of Melissa Hanson, a reporter for The Sun of Lowell, the Sentinel & Enterprise's sister daily, who as a modern digital journalist relays deliberations in real time.

DeSimone backed out, and members returned for a second round of discussion on Monday. They preferred their privacy in a public setting.

"That little young lady over there is going to tweet out everything we say!" complained alternate member Richard DeFreitas of Chelmsford, referring to Hanson in the audience.

None of the 14 members or staff present -- even the five female board members -- called out DeFreitas, because in 2016 referring to a professional journalist as a "little lady" apparently isn't worth questioning.

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The silence was most deafening from board member Sam Poulten of Chelmsford, who as a vocal, lifelong champion of Democratic Party principles would be the member most expected to call out obvious sexism.

After regaining his tongue, Poulten lost his senses, motioning to criticize Hanson for defying the board's wish to announce a legitimate news story on its own terms. The rest of the board lock-stepped behind Poulten and against openness. (One would think Poulten, owner of a radio station, would have accidentally grazed against the First Amendment at some point.)

The board's collective fit accomplished two things. It distracted attention from the selection of Pigeon, an enthusiastic cheerleader who has great respect inside Nashoba Tech. And it showed the board's initial concern was about its role as combination Politburo and Pravda, and not about the feelings of a valued employee.

Nashoba Tech has torn down gender barriers under retiring Superintendent Judith Klimkiewicz's leadership, encouraging young women to take on traditionally male disciplines such as plumbing or machine tool technology. Its board seems less in touch.

When board members' terms expire, Nashoba communities, especially Chelmsford, should consider whether their representatives can promote a 21st-century education with a 20th-century mindset.

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